Car traffic volumes have not yet reached pre-COVID-19 levels but the gap between 2021 and 2019 figures is gradually declining, new CSO figures show. 

Data for the week beginning 28 June show that car traffic volumes were 115% higher in selected regional sites compared with week one of 2021.

The volume of private cars in the regional locations was 32% higher in the week beginning 28 June than it was in the same week of 2020.

Traffic count

Car traffic volumes were still 10% lower than in week 26 of 2019. However, in week one of 2021 regional traffic count volumes were 47% below 2019 levels, said statistician Nele van der Wielen.

Car traffic volumes are now at 86% of June 2019 levels in the Dublin area and 90% of June 2019 levels in regional locations.

Since the beginning of April 2021 HGV traffic volumes in both regional and Dublin locations have been above 2020 levels.

There were 58 fatalities on Irish roads in the first half of 2021 compared with 71 in the same period in 2020, a drop of 18%.

The number of new private cars licensed in June 2021 rose by 2,791 vehicles compared with June 2020 and there were 1,122 more vehicles licensed than in June 2019.

Impact

COVID-19 continues to have a major impact on airport passenger numbers, however, the number of passengers travelling through Dublin airport in May 2021 grew by 26% compared with the previous month. 

The CSO bulletin is compiled using data collected by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Road Safety Authority, the National Transport Authority, Dublin City Council, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Transport.